Splice-bar for rail-joints



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

THEODORE IVILKIN, OF MIIVAVKEE, WISCONSIN.

SPLICE-BAR FOR RAIL-JOINTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,629, dated December 18, 1888.

Application tiled April 5, 1888. Serial No. 269,738. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEoDoRE S. WILKIN, of Milwaukee, in the county ot Milwaukee and State of 'isconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Splice-Bars for Rail-Joints, of which the followingis a speciiication.

My invention relates to rail-joints, and has reference more particularly to a novel construction of the iish-plates, all as hereinafter set forth, vwhereby the nuts are preventedfrom becoming` loosened.

In the drawings, Figure l is a horizontal sectional view through a rail-joint, showing the invent-ion in its simplest form; and Figs.

2, 3, and t, views illustrating slightly-di tterent f to these different plans I make no claim.

arrangements of the joint.

A A indicate the rails, which may be ot' any suitable construction.; B l, the Fish-plates; and C C, bolts passing transversely through the rails and plates and provided with nuts l), as shown in all the tigu res.

As shown in Fig. l, one of the fish-plates is' provided at or near each hole through which the bolts pass with one or more spring-arms, E, which project outward slightly away from the tace ot the plate and bear against the inner Yface ot' the bolt-head, nut, or'washer, as the case may be. These arms E E may be and preferably are formed at the same time and bythe same operation with the punching of the holes, and hence require no extra work or handling' in their manufacture. The arms are formed by cutting two slots in the plate adjacent to and intersecting or terminating' in the hole for the bolt, so that when the arms are bent outward, as shown, the free ends will engage the bolt-head or nut. After the nut is screwed up upon the bolt the nut is prevented from turning by reasonof the elasticity or spring action of the arms, which bear upon the inner face of the nut with sufticient force to prevent its turning or unscrewing.

In Fig. l I have shown only one of the bars provided with the spring-arms, while in Figs. 2 and 3 both plates or bars are provided with them.

It' desired, the ordinary fish-plates may be Vbeneath the head of the bolt pr the nut; and

I am also aware that it. has been proposed to provide these washers with lipsl or spurs, and In my plan these special mit-retaining devices 1 are dispensed with, the spliceebar itself being provided with an arm or arms to bear against the. under side or tace of the bolt-head or the nut.

I am further aware that it has been proposed to employ in a rail-joint two elastic plates (without arms) doubled upon themselves, one on each side of the rails, and to pass bolts through the rails and plates, and such a construction I also disclaim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A splice-plate provided with a hole (or holes) to receive a bolt, and with a projecting spring-arm to bear upon the inner face of the bolt-head or nut.

2. A splice-plate provided with a hole (or holes) to receive a bolt, and with a projecting spring-arm formed integral with the plate to bear upon the inner face of the bolt-head or nut. Y

3. A splice-plate provided with a hole (or holes) to receive a bolt, and with a spring-arm having its free end adjacent to the hole, as and for the purpose set forth.

t. A splice-plate provided with a hole to receive a bolt, and with slots intersecting the hole so as to form a spring-arm.

5. A splice-plate provided with a series ot' holes to receive bolts, and with a series of outwardly-projecting spring-arms adjacent to the bolts.

IOO

6. The eomlonatomwith railsAA, of splioei In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand plates, as B B, on'opposte sides of 'the rails, l in the presence of two Witnesses. and bolts C, passlng through the ralls and l THEODORE Si YILKIN' plates, one or both of the plates being p1'o 5 vided with projecting spring-arms to bear lVtnesses:

upon the inner faces of the bolt-heads .or C. H. GEORGI, nuts. A M. KINTZELE. 

